Back in June, Apple unveiled iOS 6 with much fan fair: the release included great long-expected additions, which included the big surprise of ditching Google Maps for Apple’s own system. While great additions were brought to the table, Maps in sixth generation iOS has had its own share of post-launch issues and inaccuracies (for London users, as an example, all of the Underground stations magically disappeared from an iOS version to another). Google has seized this opportunity to bring back its Maps to the iPhone, this time as a standalone map. Overall, we think you should give it a look.
Syncing data is big business these days, and the major player in the space is Dropbox. With mobile apps across all major platforms and syncing that the likes of Apple could only dream about, Dropbox today gave iOS users an early Christmas present by updating the company's iOS app.
The holiday season is well and truly upon us, and with so many sought-after gadgets on the market, finding best offer can be somewhat bamboozling. Each of the major retailers will be grappling for the attentions of consumers, and two of the largest - Walmart and Target - have kicked things off with some great savings on iOS devices.
Rovio Entertainment has seen one simple-yet-addictive title for iPhone turn into a billion-dollar industry, and with three years since the release of that original title also tying in with the holiday period and the announcement of the inevitable movie, the company has gotten the celebrations going by offering all of its iPad titles for just $0.99.
Thanks to its ability to run custom launchers at the drop of a hat, the Android experience is one of very few limits. If you don't like the look or functionality of your stock Android ROM, you can completely alter the experience to suit your needs by means of a home screen alternative. If you've always had your eye on the unique software quirks of the Sony Xperia range, but haven't been as taken by the devices themselves, you can now enjoy the Xperia launcher on your device running Ice Cream Sandwich or above, thanks to the stellar work of the folks over at XDA Developers.
A lot of companies dedicate their time and resources to protecting our treasured gadgets, and while there are countless different types available, Twelve South offer something quite unique. The company's BookBook cases not only protect your gadget from the everyday wear and tear, but also look distinctly like old books. Not only does this offer a vintage finesse rarely witnessed in this field, but it actually prevents would-be thieves from spotting your expensive device. Having released the BookBook for iPhone 5 a short while ago, Twelve South has come through with another for the iPad mini, and it looks just as good as the device itself!
Google Maps for iOS is officially here, and aside from the fact that it brings a rather pleasant and powerful mapping experience to iOS built on top of Google's wonderful data, it also brings some goodness in the form of URL schemes that not only allow developers, but also standard users to invoke the Maps app with different functionality at will. URL schemes are nothing new, but one of the benefits to users using the Google Maps for example is that they allow users to launch the Maps app directly into different views or to begin using different aspects of the software without having to jump through hoops to get to where they want to be.
There’s a pretty reasonable and easy to understand explanation for the popularity of AOSP-based Android ROMs like CyanogenMod or AOKP, or even MIUI – these firmware often give you a chance to try out a version of Android that’s either not yet available for your device, or that might not have been official supported by the manufacturer at all. I am rocking unofficial CM 10.1 on my Huawei U9200 just to get a taste of Android 4.2, and had I stuck with the stock operating system that came from the manufacturer, I’d still have been at 4.1 Jelly Bean. This is not just me – a lot of people go for unofficial builds so that they can try out new features and improvements without having to upgrade the device itself. Thus, it makes complete sense that a device like the international Galaxy S III I9300 would receive a CyanogenMod 10.1 build, even if its unofficial.
Scarcely a week goes by without some mention of a patent dispute within the tech industry, and while we're used to catching up on the latest in the wave of disputes concerning Samsung and Apple, today's installment of The Patent Files concerns only the latter. The Cupertino-residing outfit is often a focal point of copyright infringement squabbles, and according to a report by Bloomberg, the company's iPhone has been found to violate three patents held by MobileMedia.
Not so long ago, it was deemed cool to slate the Facebook for iOS app. Zuck's team had mastered the art of ramping up its user base, but despite boasting the largest social network on the planet, could not master the comparatively simple task of delivering a functional app. However, when version 5.0 came along, things changed dramatically for the better thanks to a complete re-write using native code, and ever since, the hundreds of millions using Facebook on Apple's iDevice range have been able to enjoy the service with relatively few seams. Today, version 5.3 has been released, and as well as improved News Feed and image uploading, iPhone users will also notice that the Timeline has been worked on.
